• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.231-237
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• 2004

In this research we determined the levels of heavy metals in soil and metal-accumulating plants from a D military shooting site in the Kyungkido district of Korea. The data obtained may be useful in the development of methods for the efficient phytoremediation of contaminated soil. The total Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn concentrations in the soil were found to be 1.67-5.04 mg/kg, 52.51-106.26 mg/kg, 37.24-90.32mg/kg, and 111.45-188.19mg/kg, respectively. These results show that the soil is contaminated with Cd and Cu, and this contamination is particularly severe in the case of Cd because of its high bioavailability (25-57% of the total metal in the soil is exchangeable). The high concentrations of heavy metals in the shoots of Persicaria thunbergii and Artemisia princeps var. orientalis indicate that these plants (all perennial herbs) accumulate heavy metal efficiently. Further, these plants were found to contain more Cd in its shoots (＞60% of the total metal found in the plant) than any other plant; these results indicate that these native species are particularly suited to use in Cd phytoextraction.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.163-170
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• 2014

The potential ability of Button mushroom compost (BMC) to solubilize heavy metals was estimated with metal contaminated soils collected from abandoned mines of Boryeong area in South Korea. The bacterial strains in BMC were isolated for investigating the mobilization of metals in soil or plant by the strains and identified according to 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. When metal solubilization potential of BMC was assessed in a batch experiment, the BMC was found to be capable of solubilizing metals in the presence of metals (Co, Pb and Zn) and the results showed that inoculation of BMC could increase the concentrations of water soluble Co, Pb and Cd by 35, 25 and 45% respectively, than those of non-inoculated soils. BMC-assisted growth promotion and metal uptake in sunflower (Helianthus annuus) was also evaluated in a pot experiment. In comparison with non-inoculated seedlings, the inoculation led to increase the growth of H. annuus by 27, 25 and 28% respectively in Co, Pb and Zn contaminated soils. Moreover, enhanced accumulation of Co, Pb and Zn in the shoot and root systems was observed in inoculated plants, where metal translocation from root to the above-ground tissues was also found to be enhanced by the BMC. The apparent results suggested that the BMC could effectively be employed in enhancing phytoextraction of Co, Pb and Zn from contaminated soils.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.290-298
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• 2014

A bacterial strain with the potential ability to solubilize heavy metals was isolated from heavy metal contaminated soils collected from abandoned mines of Boryeong area in South Korea. The bacterial strain with the highest degree of metal resistance was shown to have close proximity with Shewanella xiamenensis FJ589031, according to 16S rRNA sequence analysis, and selected for investigating the mobilization of metals in soil or plant by the strain. The strain was found to be capable of solubilizing metals both in the absence and in the presence of metals (Co, Pb and Cd). Metal mobilization potential of the strain was assessed in a batch experiment and the results showed that inoculation could increase the concentrations of water soluble Co, Pb and Cd by 48, 34 and 20% respectively, compared with those of non-inoculated soils. Bacterial-assisted growth promotion and metal uptake in sunflower (Helianthus annuus) was evaluated in a pot experiment. In comparison with non-inoculated seedlings, the inoculation led to increase the growth of H. annuus by 24, 18 and 16% respectively in Co, Pb and Cd contaminated soils. Moreover, enhanced accumulation of Co, Pb and Cd in the shoot and root systems was observed in inoculated plants, where metal translocation from root to the above-ground tissues was also found to be enhanced by the strain. Plant growth promotion and metal mobilizing potential of the strain suggest that the strain could effectively be employed in enhancing phytoextraction of Co, Pb and Cd from contaminated soils.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.634-640
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• 2015

Chelating agents have been proposed to improve the efficiency of phytoextraction of heavy metal hyperaccumulator. However, little studies to elucidate mechanism of chelating agents to increase cadmium (Cd) extractability have been conducted. The objectives of this study were to evaluate effect of different chelating agents on Cd extractability and to determine mechanism of Cd mobilization affected by these agents. An arable soil was spiked with inorganic Cd ($CdCl_2$) to give a total Cd concentration of $20mgCdkg^{-1}$. Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and citric acid (CA) were selected and mixed with the arable soil at the rates of 0 and $5mmolkg^{-1}$. The mixture soils were incubated at $25^{\circ}C$ for 4 weeks in dark condition. Concentration of F1 Cd fractions (water soluble) significantly increased with addition of EDTA but did not changed with addition of CA. Especially; concentration of F5 Cd fractions (residual) significantly increased with addition of CA. Increase in water soluble with EDTA might be attributed to complexation of Cd and EDTA. Dissolved organic carbon concentration significantly increased with EDTA addition, but did not with CA implying that considerable amount of CA was decomposed to inorganic carbon by microorganism. Log activity of carbonate ($CO_3{^{2-}}$) which might be generated from CA increased with addition of CA. Increase in residual Cd fraction might be due to precipitation of Cd as $CdCO_3$. As a result, EDTA was effective in increasing Cd extractability, by contrast CA had significant effect in reducing Cd extractability.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.28-38
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• 2024

Phytoremediation presents a low-carbon and eco-friendly solution for heavy metal-contaminated soils, which pose great health and environmental risks to humans and ecosystems. A hydroponic culture was used to quantitatively assess the phytoremediation potential of plant species to remediate As or Cd-contaminated soil in field application. This study examined the growth, uptake, and distribution of Cd in the roots and shoots of Phalaris arundinacea and Brassica juncea in hydroponic conditions with Cd concentrations ranging from 0 to 20 mg/L for 10 days. Additionally, Aster koraiensis and Pteris multifida were cultivated in hydroponic conditions containing As concentrations ranging from 0 to 40 mg/L for 10 days. The concentrations of Cd in the above-ground part and root tissues of P. arundinacea and B. juncea reached a maximum of 147.7 and 1926.7 mg/kg-D.W.(Dry Weight), and 351.6 and 11305.5 mg/kg-D.W., respectively. Bioconcentration factor (BCF) for P. arundinacea and B. juncea were 68.9 and 122.3, respectively. Both species exhibited a translocation factor (TF) of less than 0.1, indicating their eligibility for phytostabilization. Aster koraiensis exhibited significant As accumulation of 155.1 and 1306.7 mg/kg D.W. in the above-ground part and root, respectively. However, this accumulation resulted with substantial weight loss and the manifestation of toxic symptoms. P. multifida exhibited higher accumulation of As (345.1 mg/kg-D.W.) in the fronds than in the roots (255.4 mg/kg-D.W.), corresponding to BCF values of 18.6 and 7.6, respectively, and a TF greater than 1.2. A TF value greater than 1.0 indicates that P. multifida is a viable option for phytoextraction.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.500-506
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• 2008

Enhanced phytoremediation with EDTA or PSM(Phosphate solubilizing microorganism) was studied using green foxtail (Setaria viridis) in columns packed with 1,200 mgPb/kg contaminated soil to investigate the effects of EDTA or PSM on the plant uptake and vertical migration of Pb. EDTA, equimolar amount of total Pb in the column soil, was administered in two methods: the one was treated with 1/6 aliquots of the equimolar EDTA every week for 6 weeks and the other was treated with single dose of the equimolar EDTA before 14 days of harvest. The results showed that higher concentrations of Pb accumulated in the biomass of green fowtail after the chemical or biological treatment. The plant-root Pb concentration in PSM treatment(M), EDTA aliquot treatment(ES), and single dose treatment(E) was 2.6, 3.0, and 3.3 times higher, respectively, than that in the plant-root of control(164.7 mg/kg). The plant-stem Pb concentration in the M, ES and E treatment was 27, 37, and 40 times higher than that in the stem of control(8.1 mg/kg). The translocation factor, the ratio of shoot/root Pb concentration, was 0.6 in the two EDTA treatment, 0.5 in the M treatment, and 0.05 in the control, respectively. The largest amount of Pb was phyto-extracted in the E treatment whereas vertical migration of EDTA was significant in the ES treatment. This result showed that a single large dose of EDTA before harvest serves better for enhanced phytoremediation of Pb. Although, treatment with PSM showed less Pb phytoextraction by the plant but enhanced both the growth of plants in the column and microbial dehydrogenase activity in the soils. Therefore, enhanced phytoextraction of Pb with PSM treatment can be an alternative option for EDTA treatment, which is toxic to plants and soil ecosystem.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.61-68
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• 2010

Phytoextraction, one type of phytoremediation processes, has been widely used in the removal of heavy metals from polluted soil. This paper reviewed literature on metal uptake by plants and characterized the metal uptake by types of metals (Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd, and As), plant species, initial metal concentrations in soil and the distribution of metals in different parts of plants. The potential of metal accumulation and transport by plants was closely related to plants species, types of metals, and initial metal concentrations in soil. The plants belonging to Brassicaceae, Solanaceae, Poaceae, and Convolvulaceae families have shown the high potential capacity of Cd accumulation. The Gentianaceae, Euphorbiaceae, and Polygonaceae families have exhibited relatively high Pb uptake potential while the Pteridaceae and Cyperaceae families have shown relatively high Zn uptake potential. The Pteridaceae family could uptake a remarkably high amount of As compared with other plant families. The potential metal accumulation per plant biomass has increased with increasing initial metal concentration in soil up to a certain level and then decreased for Cd and Zn. For As, only Pteris vittata had a linear relationship between initial concentration in soil and potential of metal uptake. However, a meaningful relationship for Pb was not found in this study. Generally, the plants having high metal uptake potential for Cd or Pb mainly accumulated the metal in their roots. However, the Euphorbiaceae family has accumulated more than 80% of Pb in shoot. Zn has evenly accumulated in roots and stems except for the plants belonging to the Polygonaceae and Rosaceae families which accumulated Zn in their leaves. The Pteridaceae family has accumulated a higher amount of As in leaves than roots. The types of metals, plant species, and initial metal concentration in soil influence the metal uptake by plants. It is important to select site-specific plant species for effective removal of metals in soil. Therefore, this study may provide useful and beneficial information on metal accumulation by plants for the in situ phytoremediation.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.469-476
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• 2015

Button mushroom compost (BMC) was prepared by fermenting the mixture of waste button mushroom bed collected from Boryeong area in South Korea (4): sawdust (8) : pig and fowl manure (1) for 40 days at $30^{\circ}C$. The BMC compromised diverse microorganisms including aerobic bacteria $8.1{\times}10^6cfu\;g^{-1}$, Gram negative bacteria $1.7{\times}10^7cfu\;g^{-1}$, genus Bacillus $6.4{\times}10^6cfu\;g^{-1}$, genus Pseudomonas $1.5{\times}10^4cfu\;g^{-1}$, actinomycetes $1.0{\times}10^4cfu\;g^{-1}$, and fungi $3.5{\times}10^3cfu\;g^{-1}$. BMC was used as a microbial inoculant for estimating the mobilization of heavy metals in soil or plant. When metal solubilization potential of BMC was assessed in a batch experiment, the inoculation of BMC was shown to increase the concentrations of water soluble Co, Pb, Cd, and Zn by 29, 26, 27, and 43% respectively, than those of non-inoculated soils. BMC-assisted growth promotion and metal uptake in sunflower (Helianthus annuus) was also evaluated in a pot experiment. In comparison with non-inoculated seedlings, the inoculation led to increase the growth of H. annuus by 17, 15, 18, and 21% respectively in Co, Pb, Cd, and Zn contaminated soils. Moreover, enhanced accumulation of Co, Pb, Cd, and Zn in the shoot and root systems was observed in inoculated plants, where metal translocation from root to the above-ground tissues was also found to be enhanced by the BMC. The apparent results suggested that the BMC could effectively be employed in enhancing phytoextraction from the soils contaminated with heavy metals such as Co, Pb, Cd, and Zn.

• Journal of Korea Soil Environment Society
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.113-125
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• 1999

Heavy metal elements were analysed to assess degrees of heavy metal contents for the plants, M. sinensis, A. vulgaris and G. oldhamiana, from the Baekdong serpentine area within the western part of Chungnam. The area was divided into two sites ; serpentine area (SP, consisting of serpentinite, SP) and non-serpentine area (NSP, containing amphibole schist, AS and gneiss, GN). Their host rocks(R) and top soils(S) were also collected from the each site. As the results of the study, the plants contain high concentration of Ni Cr, Co in the SP and Fe, Zn in the AS and GN. Plants from the AS of the NSP contain mainly high content in the most of elements. Averages of Ni, Co and Cr for the plants decreased in the order of SP, AS and GN. In the total element contents, M. sinensis and A. vulgaris decreased in the order of Fe > Ni or Cr > Zn > Co > As > Sc within the SP and in the order of Fe > Zn > Cr > Ni, within the GN. Comparing among the parts of plants, root parts were higher in the most of elements than the above grounds. In the relative element ratios of plants collected from the SP and GN (SP/GN) M. sinensis was lower than A. vulgaris in the most of elements, suggesting that the M. sinenis shows low absorption within the infertile serpentine soil and high absorption within the fertile gneiss soil. In the element contents of the top soils and their host rocks, the SP shows higher Ni, Co and Cr contents than the others. Their total contents decreased from SP to AS and GN, suggesting that the soils reflect the composition of their host rocks. Total element contents of the SP decreased in the order of Fe> Cr or Ni> Co> Zn> As> Sc and, for the GN, in the order of Fe> Zn> Cr> Ni> Co or Sc, respectively. In the relative element ratios, R/S of the SP decreased in the order of Cr> As> Fe> Sc> Co> Ni> Zn and for the GN, in the order of Sc> Fe> Ni> Zn> Cr> Co. Comparing with plants within the each site, their top soils were higher than the plants in the most of elements. and their increase and decrease trends for each element are similar. Differences of element contents between the top soils and plants decreased in the order of SP, AS and GN. Plants of the GN were moi-e similar to their soils than those of the others, suggesting that each plant species show different absorptions within the different soils. Comparing with the plants of GN, higher Ni, Co, Cr contents within those of the SP and their survival within the infertile serpentine soil suggest that the M. sinensis, A vulgaris and G. oldhamiana may be the tolerance species in the serpentine soil. Comparisons with the upper crust show that M. sinensis, and A. vulgaris within the SP show high Hi and Cr contents. suggestive of hyperaccumulation. Upper results with the previous studies for the contaminated soils developed as parent materials with the serpentinites suggest additional studies for ecological behaviors for the plant and degrees of accumulations for the elements need to know phytoextraction of the heavy metal elements within the soils.